Stories for April 18th 2017

The Treasury of the Falkland Islands government have launched a new series of coins that celebrate the wedding anniversary of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. The couple were married after a brief engagement, but, as the couple had been long acquainted, the marriage was—for at least the princess—a foregone conclusion.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to call a snap general election on 8 June. She said Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership following the EU referendum, and supporting her decision, said: “The country is coming together but Westminster is not.”

The Falkland Islands government has made further announcements regarding the South Atlantic Airbridge, which has been rerouted because of the temporary closure of Ascension Island runway, but now seems to be back in track to normalizing via alternative airports in West Africa. Ascenson island, in mid Atlantic, is a crucial call point for the long airbridge to the Falklands.

A United States judge on Monday sentenced Brazilian engineering company Odebrecht SA to pay US$2.6 billion in fines in a massive criminal corruption case, signing off on a plea deal between the company and U.S., Brazilian and Swiss authorities.